Orthopedic insole



Aug. 17, 1948. E, K, B RUCKNER 2,447,231

ORTHOPEDIG INSOLE Filed sep. 11, 194e INVENTOR. iria/ard l( BraclrnerPatented Aug. 17, 1948 NT OFFICE ORTHOPEDIC INSOLE 1 Edward K. Bruckner,New York, N. Y.

Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,209

2 Claims.

' This invention relates to annner sole for Will not become warped anddistorted from being worn.Y

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an innersole having a Wedge formed in the construction thereof that willseparate the great toe from the adjoining toes in such manner as toprevent an enlarged joint or bunion from forming, or where it may havebeen formed, to relieve the pressure on the bunion or enlarged joint,thus relieving severe pain and aiding to gradually straighten the greattoe, and preventing the shoe from being distorted in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner sole wherein abase of soft sponge rubber is covered by a sheet of soft leather, orother suitable material, which prevents the rubber base sheet fromhaving direct contact with a persons foot and thus prevents the footfrom becoming overheated by the rubber base.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner sole whereinwedges formed of rubber, leather, or other suitable material, aremounted between the sponge rubber base sheet and the thin leather topsheet and cemented to both sheets so that they will be rmly held andprevented from moving out of their proper positions in the inner sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner sole formed asset forth and of such construction that it will be comfortable when inuse.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the course of thefollowing description. Y

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved inner sole;

Figure 2 is a side edge View thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the manner inwhich the big toe is spread; and

Figure 4 is a view showing a shoe partially in side elevation andpartially in section, the improved inner sole being shown in the shoe.

This improved inner sole is used in connection with a shoe l ofconventional formation, and when it is in use, it rests flat upon thesole 2 of 2 t the shoe, itsslze and shape being such'that it nts snuglyin the shoe and will not move'longitudinally or transverselyr therein.

The inner sole 3 is of laminated formation and has a base 4 formed froma sheet of sponge rubber which is preferably of about one-eight inchthick and of the same thickness throughout its area. The top sheet orcovering 5 is formed from a thin sheet of kid, or other suitablematerial, and conforms to the shape and outline of the base sheet andhas its marginal edges flush with edges of the .base sheet. Between thebase sheet and the cover sheet are disposed a wedge 6 and a transverselyextending strip 1. The wedge 6 extends longitudinally of the inner solefrom the toe end thereof and substantially tri-angular in shape andtapered to its rear end, the length of the wedge or spreader being suchthat when 'i shoe having the improved inner sole therein is worn, thewedge shaped spreader will'extend between the big toe 8 and the toe 9 ofa persons foot. Therefore, the big toe 8 will be spread away from thesmall toe 9 and prevented from being crowded towards the small toe andsqueezing and pinching of the toes will be prevented. This will alsoprevent the `ioint of the big toe from being forced out of its properposition and a bunion formed.

The transversely extending strip or band 1 is located just rearwardly ofthe wedge or spreader Y in such position that the rear end of thespreader touches the front edge of the cross strip. It will thus be seenthat the strip or band 1 is located just back of the toes of a perso-nsfoot and disposed under the ball portion of the foot and serves to raisethe f-oot and give protection and support to the metatarsal arch of thefoot and prevent bruising of the metatarsal heads. Side portions of thelower surface of the band or strip 'I are bevelled so that when thestrip is cemented in place its upper surface is arcuate in crosssection, as shown in Figure 4, and the strip provided Y with featheredside edge portions and prevented from forming ridges which would beuncomfortable when a shoe is Worn. The fact that the spreader and thecross strip are disposed between the base sheet and the cover sheet andcemented to them causes the spreader and the cross strip to be veryfirmly held against movement out of their proper positions by action ofthe cement and also .by action of the soft rub-ber from which the basesheet is formed.

From the foregoing description and the construction of my improved innerplatform sole, the method of making same and the application,

3 thereof to use will be readily understood and it will be seen that Ihave provided a comparatively simple, inexpensive and efficient meansfor carrying out the various objects of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An insole comprising a base sheet o sponge rubber, a top sheet ofthin leather, and a wedge between the sheets Aextending longitudinallyof the insole from .the front end thereof and forming a rearwardlytapered ridge disposed in position for engaging between the big toe andan adjoining toe of a persons foot and spreading said toes, the saidridge being of appreciably lessadiameter than the toes and having sideedges merging into the upper surface of the top sheet.

2. An inso1e for a shoe comprisinga base: sheet of thick sponge rubber,a top sheet of thin nexible material, a wedge between the sheetsextending longitudinally of the insole from the front endk thereofV andtaperedy towards itsV rear end, said^'vvefige being in position to`engage between the big toe andthe adjoining toe of a persons foot andspreading the said toes and being of appreciably less depth than thetoes, and a cross strip extending transversely of the insole for thefull width thereof between the said sheets adjacent to and rearwardly ofthe rear end of said Wedge in position for supporting the metatarsalarch o-f the foot and preventing bruising of the metatarsal heads.

' EDWARD. K..BRUCKNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofVthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 35,629 Rosenheimer June 17, 18621,867,431 Wood July 12, 1932 2,075,552 Stemmons" Mar. 30, 1937`2,097,930 Lustin NOV. 2, 1937 2,217,882 Andersen Oct.`15, 19402,330,398 Vass '.Sept. 28,1943

